Digitalization and the emerging risk of delinquency among emerging adults raised in a wired world

Abstract

Globally, the digital age has immensely contributed to the evolution and emergence of delinquency and social problems among emerging adults. As excellent as the tremendous benefits that technology has afforded these generations of youths raised in a wired world, some have decided to engage in the dark side of computer technology. The main aim of the study is to explore the how problematic internet use can influence development of delinquent behaviour among emerging adults in higher school of learning. It also explored the role of household financial capabilities of the emerging adults. The study adopted convenient sampling method to select n=386; (50.5% males and 49.5% females) who were aged between 16-27 years from University of Lagos. This cross-sectional study administered standardized instruments to examine the variables (Problematic internet use questionnaire, Disciplinary and delinquent behaviour survey) Result showed no significant difference between problematic internet use and emerging adult delinquency (t(384) = -1.29 P> .05), also, no significant difference between the delinquency of participants from high or low income earners, t(373) = -1.93, P> .05). Therefore, it is expedient to develop safety guidelines that will serve as interplay between digitalization and delinquency in which emerging adults must exercise restraint and broader range of delinquency can be confirmed among other samples.